Russia's prosecutor calls for seven-year prison sentence for US citizen accused of fighting for Ukraine – JURIST

According to Interfax, a Russian prosecutor on Saturday requested a seven-year prison sentence for a 72-year-old American accused of working as a mercenary for Ukraine. The Moscow City Court is hearing a criminal case against 72-year-old Stefan Hubbard, who allegedly fought alongside the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) against the Russian military.

The defendant is charged with mercenary activity under Russia's Criminal Code and was escorted into the courtroom by military police for a hearing on Thursday. At the start of the hearing, prosecutors formally requested that the trial be held behind closed doors, which is common practice in Russia for high-profile or politically sensitive cases.

During the trial, more details about the defendant emerged in court. The defendant is retired and is said to have entered Ukraine in 2014 and remained there. According to RIA Novosti, Hubbard is said to have signed a $1,000 per month contract with the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces in February 2022.

Hubbard is scheduled to remain in custody until March 25.

As Lenta.ru reports, a total of 785 foreigners have been prosecuted in Russia since 2014 for fighting on behalf of the Ukrainian armed forces.

In August, Ksenia Karelina, a dual American-Russian citizen, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for donating about $50 to a Ukrainian organization.